Olivia said: "He was lovely. He just seemed so normal, polite and friendly.

"He didn't make a fuss. He was very down to earth."

Only Olivia and Michael knew De Niro would be dining at their restaurant and while other staff knew someone special was coming, the couple had to stay quiet until the moment the actor came through their doors.

Olivia said: "It felt surreal."

But she added: "You have to keep your work head on and make sure it's running smoothly."

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And De Niro enjoyed the menu which included plenty of Italian style meats and cheeses.

Olivia said: "He was very appreciative.

"He said he loved the food.

"It was a bit hard for him because people wanted to talk to him."

But Olivia added: "He was very friendly and he let the staff have their picture taken with him and he said how much he enjoyed the food."

What Robert De Niro had to eat when he visited Ricci's Place

Starters

Main

Dry aged beef with braised short rib in a spiced red wine and pomme puree

Dessert

A trio of New York baked cheesecake, Amalfi lemon tart and chocolate cylinders filled with tiramisu

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